Grand Rapids Griffins 2011-12 Roster

[Resmo112]

Resmo my friend how are you?

How do you think Howard has done? What is your take and Ozzie coming back next year? Souundslike Isles will not let ups have Nabokov next year

Howard's season can be broken in to 3 parts

The beginning- looked like one of the best goalies in the league
The middle - looked like one of the worst goalies in the league
The playoffs - looks like he can play well enough to take the team to a SC

He was plagued with inconsistency in the minors too, it'd be nice to see him level out a bit, I don't care if he's the best goalie ever I just would rather have a solid howard than what we saw towards the middle of this season.

Osgood - probably retires, I'm sure Holland will call Snow about nabokov but I doubt anything comes from that, he's already expressed that he doesn't want to play for the Isle so who knows doubt anything materializes from it. For a backup I look at Conklin, Emery, couple other guys who are UFA's this year, it's not that Macdonald is bad, just not someone I'm comfortable with starting if Howard gets hurt for a long period, we'd also need to find a third stringer since well absolutely none of our goalies are even close to ready for NHL duty.

[Grittzkey]

Tatar - Minard - Tardif
Coatzee - Johnson - Pare
Owens - Ferarro - Andersson
Keefe - Raedeke - Callahan
Nestrasil/Straub

Tons of youth and pretty gritty character players. I could see GR telling Keefe no thank you next year and he may catch on with another AHL team especially after his strong showing with the Griffins last year. I'd prefer we kept him in hopes that it kept Callahan on the ice so he wouldn't be goaded into fighting unnecessary battles. I'd also wish we kept Tardif because I think he has a great net presence as well and we're rather small up front on forwards.

Smith - Ehrhardt
Piche - Amadio
Janik - Lashoff
Pyett/Kolosov

I think this is a prime opportunity for Smith to prove that he is NHL worthy. His team is going to be kind of weak unless they make some splashes in FA and I think Smith is the type of player who will try to carry the team on his back and not crack under pressure. Ehrhardt has been continuing to progress and it's promising, I almost see him in the mold of Brad Stuart. Piche was my favorite player at prospects camp two years ago.

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Tardif I think will try and catch on with an NHL team unless Detroit gives him an honest chance of making the team. Which won't happen.

Owens, Pyett and Pare re-sign with Detroit also.

Janik and Smith are in contention with NHL minutes. Strictly due to timing Smith won't have the opportunity. Janik may be Detroits #7 D-man.

I don't see Straub or Kolosov being retained either.

[tommyfan]

Good break down, buit how about the goaltending? I think Macdonald will either be in Detroit. somewhere else in the NHl or in Europe. I think he rightly believes he is an NHl goalitender and proved it this year. Still need a veteran to pair with Pearce or Mcollum. Don't want two kids together.

I also wonder if some prospects wiil play at Toledo ans there will not be room for all of them to play regualry at Grand Rapids. Better to play regulary at toledo than sit in Grand Rapids. Lastly I think Jim Nill will work hard at gett ing better AHL vets to work with the kids. I am determined to get to a game in 2011-2012 after listening to many over the internet.

[Jimbo7200]

What about Gus Nyquist?

[Wingman56]

I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one of Minard or Johnson loaned out to another team. They just didn't provide that veteran presence or offensive punch that was needed this season. I think we'll see a couple other vets in the lineup and a few different veteran defensemen as well.

[tommyfan]

Agreed, Minard and Johnson did not provide what was expected. Nill looks for elite veteran American League guys to lead the rookies and be depth guys for detroit. Sometimes they end up being fourth line guys for Detroit. Also a need for a veteran AHL goaltender with NHl experience as I think Macdonald will be elswhere.

Interesting to see what happens. Does Fraser come back?

[Wingman56]

Fraser got an extension at some point during the 2nd half of the season which seemed to shock most Griffins followers..so unfortunately he'll be back. They need a shake-up.

[Grittzkey]

What about Gus Nyquist?

I messed up, derp.

I wasn't going to put Tardif on the roster, but I did and I took out Nyq. My beeezy

[PokerAndPucks]

Fraser got an extension at some point during the 2nd half of the season which seemed to shock most Griffins followers..so unfortunately he'll be back. They need a shake-up.

At some point they need a consistent coach behind the bench instead of hiring a new one every other year.

Someone, I think it was Kahn, was talking about the Wings getting a vet goalie to play in GR and mentor McCollum. Are they giving up on Pearce?

[Resmo112]

Fraser got an extension at some point during the 2nd half of the season which seemed to shock most Griffins followers..so unfortunately he'll be back. They need a shake-up.

At some point they need a consistent coach behind the bench instead of hiring a new one every other year.

Someone, I think it was Kahn, was talking about the Wings getting a vet goalie to play in GR and mentor McCollum. Are they giving up on Pearce?

I don't know if they're giving up on pearce, but they for sure would like a first round goalie to work himself out.